Drops of Jupiter

-Taylor Swift Cover-

Now he’s back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in his hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there’s time to change, hey, hey
Since his return from his stay on the moon
He listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all fadeing
And that heaven is overrated?
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar,
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Now that he’s back from that soul vacation
Chasing his way through the constellation, hey, hey
He checks out Mozart while he does tae-bo
Reminds me that there’s room to grow, hey, hey
Now the’s back in the atmosphere
I’m afraid that he might think of me as plain ol’ Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance to dance alone in the light of day,
And head back to the Milky Way?
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find?
Did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance alone in the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

❤ ❤ ❤

God Gave Me You.

My current laptop background:

I Love It. :)

❤ ❤ ❤

Friends Who Love.

"Theheartfelt counsel of a FRIEND is as sweet as perfume and incense" -Proverbs 27:9

Friends. Friends are absolutely incredible. I have missed these friends. You know you have been blessed with great people in your life when...

:: you leave their house and you are feeling fantastically encouraged; you get into your car and end up blasting the PRAISE station the entire way home, feeling like nothing could ever bring you down.

:: you're sitting together at the coffee house, just in complete awe of how amazing Jesus is. "Think about your favourite person here on the earth...think about the person you love more than anything and anyone...the person who makes you laugh and smile like nobody else. Jesus is like that person, only an infinite amount of times BETTER."

:: you bond over Taylor Swift's Speak Now concert DVD, singing at the top of your lungs.

:: you can talk about those problems in the past that were once so hard to deal with...all the fights, the bad relationships, and the bad choices, all-the-while now wearing a smile on your face.

:: the talking lasts for hours...when it only feels like minutes.

:: you both inspire one another to do better, to set -small- goals, to move on, and to keep on trusting in the Lord with EVERYTHING.
God has been good to me, and He has blessed me with the most amazing friends ever! It's gonna be hard going back to school 7 hours away and not taking these girls with me, but God puts certain people in my life in certain places for certain reasons.

God, thank you for sending me angels. You know exactly how I have been feeling these past few days, and you sent these girls to me to encourage, inspire, and remind me that I am LOVED.

❤ ❤ ❤

Babies.

A great friend of mine just had her very first baby, so I went to go visit her in the hospital today.

As I entered into the hospital parking lot I saw the words EMERGENCY ROOM and saw a few ambulances outside the building. This caused me to realize...I don't actually like hospitals. This is weird...I'd rather not be here...I am creeped out for some reason...maybe I have seen to many movies and doctor shows...all I know is that I am expecting to see corpses being rolled down the hallway in stretchers and being passed by doctors with bloody hands. GAH. It just is funny that I never realized how much I disliked hospitals until today. (and it didn't help that we entered through the sketchy basement entrance either!!)

It was such an amazing experience for me though; before this I had never visited someone in the hospital after they had given birth, so it was a first time thing for me! And wow, was he the cutest baby EVER! Trust me, I didn't think it was even possible for babies to look so cute after emerging from the womb that soon! Haha!

When I saw the tiny baby in the father's arms I thought to myself: wow, how incredible would it be to hold something that you and your spouse created together? An actual human being composed of both your DNA's. He has his father's nose, and he has his mother's lips...it is just so amazing.

So I was in an emotional dreamland of: Hmm...a baby...I want one. UNTIL the brand-new-parents started talking about the whole 22 hour labour, c-section, epidural experience and I thought to myself: Hmm...a baby...NO WAY. Sounds absolutely horrible!!!

Now don't get me wrong, I fully believe that babies are definitely God's little miracles and that parenthood is absolutely wonderful and Biblical, but I also believe that there is a time for everything. And now is NOT the time for me to have a baby. One day...far, far, far, faaaaar away. :)

Set Me Free.

"I just need to get away from me,
I just need to find some peace of mind,
Caught in this game of unmet expectations,
I wanna leave it all behind...

So in that moment when i lose myself,
Let the world fade away from me,
Give me a moment to just seek the silence,
I just wanna be set free.

I wanna be small,
I wanna be just like a child,
I wanna be quiet in your arms,
I wanna be small,
I wanna be just like a child,
I wanna be Quiet in your arms."

Amanda Falk's lyrics portray exactly how I'm feeling. I am caught up in this world again. I find myself desiring approval from this world, and when I don't get it, I doubt myself...I doubt the capabilities I have been given...I doubt the woman God created me to be. And then the lies begin to set in: you'll never be taken seriously, you are not capable of anything, you'll never be considered, you'll never be heard, the choices you make will never be good enough...

Your opinion matters so much to me; your approval is all I'm longing for. But why? What good would your words of acceptance do for me? You didn't create the world and you certainly didn't create me. You are merely just human. You are just as lowly as me. You are not perfect and you are not my idol.

If you would give me your nods of approval and your words of affirmation, I would feel absolutely great and proud, but only in the moment. For matching up to your standards only offers me a temporary high.

I don't want to believe any of those lies...and I know that if you knew how I was feeling you wouldn't want me to believe them either. I practically kill myself wondering WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND BELIEVE THAT I AM JUST A GIRL WHO IS LETTING GOD LEAD HER LIFE AND THAT THIS GREATLY EFFECTS MY CHOICES? I am just trying to live my life the best way I can. I am a big girl and I am trying my best to live my life the way God wants me to.

All I want is to be set free from these lies and from these chains. 1 Corinthians 7:23 says "you were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men". I hold this verse close to my heart because I don't want to be a slave, I don't want to waste my life away on my hands and knees begging for the world's empty approval.

I have a high conscience of morality and I just want to do the right thing. God, thank you for this desire to want to live for you. Help me to love fearlessly, even if I feel like I'm not good enough for the world. I want to truly feel and believe that You are enough for me, and that You are all that I need.

"Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains,
I hold the key.
All power on Heaven and Earth belong to Me...
You are FREE."

-Casting Crowns-

Home For Christmas.

Wow. It is half past midnight and Christmas Day has already come and gone. It's funny actually--every year until this one, I have always dreaded the day-after-Christmas. I would just drown in sadness that all the anticipation for Christmas had just officially ended: no more Christmas music, no more lights, movies, gatherings, presents, or Christmas food.

But this time around, this Christmas 2011, things are different. Being busy in school with six exams and papers all throughout the month of December, I never even had time to think about Christmas. Sad, I know. I couldn't let myself think about Christmas! If I did, then I would have lost all motivation to study and finish my semester strong! (So yes, I am definitely that girl who finishes her Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve). The moment I left my dorm room and arrived home seven hours later was when it finally began to feel like Christmas, and that's when I just "went to town" with it!

Christmas Day is over, but I'm not sad at all! In fact, I feel like all the festivities have just begun! Over the next few weeks of Christmas break I have plans of family gatherings, attending my home church, visiting with old & good friends, and just enjoying time with family.
I have missed home...alot. It has been a tough semester in all areas, and I know that the only reason I made it through was because of God. I'm really grateful for this college I'm going to, but I realize that I need to be more grateful...

God has brought two girls into my life there who have been my angels through all of this, and I am so excited to see them again in January!! We do everything together, from studying for Anthropology and History, praying together, working out together, eating tuna together, and watching "awkward-romantic-comedies" together. I love them. :)

Another blessing is that my boyfriend and I attend school here together. The fact that we applied separately while just in the beginning of our relationship is a total God-thing, because we originally live far apart, in different countries. It's like God completely opened the door for us to grow in our relationship at this school and I am totally grateful for this. AND our one-year anniversary is approaching quick and I'm so excited!! :)

Also, have I mentioned the AMAZING weather we have had so far? Today is December 26th and it is plus 6 outside right now. I LOVE IT! And even while I have been at school the winter weather has been so mild, and it definitely makes me a happier person. Haha. Although people keep telling me that January and February are going to be the cold months...hope not!

I am also really happy to have a different major right now. I have switched from Humanities to Christian Ministry (Family Studies & Missions) with a minor in Psychology, and I am now taking classes I am interested in! Ironically enough, English class, my favourite & forte in high school is now my least favourite and definitely NOT my forte in college. What happened? I don't know. What am I going to do with this new major? I have no idea. Although Focus on the Family is still in the back of my mind...

This has been a great Christmas break so far and everyday I am here with my friends and family I am reminded how blessed I am! Am I excited to go back to school in January? No, not at all...but maybe by the time January 8th rolls around I'll be ready for it. Sigh. Last year was so different. I was missing my Bible school the minute I stepped on the plane leaving Frankfurt to go back to Canada for Christmas Break; I just loved going to school in Germany!! But now, I don't miss my school in Saskatchewan at all and I am praying for joy and the strength to endure there. On the upside, I like it much better than I did when I came home for Reading Break in mid-October! Back then it took ALL my strength to return, but now, it won't take much strength at all.

Anyway, I'd better stop before I get any more off topic here. Merry Christmas and don't forget the reason for the season: Jesus' Birth. Happy Birthday Jesus! :)

Christmas Eve.

It's Christmas Eve at my house! :) All that is missing is my family.

Think About It...

She's a Wildflower.

She’s a wildflower
Just waitin’ on a sunny day
Just waitin’ on the winds of change to blow
Just a red hot spark that’s looking for a little flame,
Trying to find the perfect place to grow
She’s a wildflower
She’s a wildflower

She makes a wish on every single star she sees
Yeah somewhere deep down she still believes
She prays every night before she goes to bed
Pretty soon her luck is gonna change
She just doesn’t know it yet

She’s a wildflower
Just waitin’ on a sunny day
Just waitin’ on the winds of change to blow
Just a red hot spark that’s looking for a little flame, yeah
Trying to find the perfect place to grow
She's the secret that nobody knows...
She’s a wildflower
She’s a wildflower

- Lauren Alaina -

❤ ❤ ❤

ONE.

Here I am, keepin' my hair up with a 90's hair clip, studying for Psychology of Children. It is almost bedtime and I am calmly thinking to myself...

YAY I ONLY HAVE ONE EXAM LEFT AND THEN IT IS TIME TO GO HOME AND CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH MY DEAR FAMILY!! :D THANK YOU GOD FOR GETTING ME THIS FAR!

Getting The Most Out Of Solitude:

When I was at Bible School in Germany, we were given a Day of Prayer; a day of total solitude from all humanity, but a day of total intimacy with our Father, Jesus Christ. These were some creative suggestions given to us to help us get the MOST out of solitude!

Pray through the prayers of scripture OUT LOUD

Pray through the prayers of scripture using the personal pronoun: I, Me, My.

Write a letter to Jesus

Recount all that God has done for you and tell that to Jesus!

Write Jesus a SONG or a POEM.

Draw a PICTURE which best captures your relationship to Christ.

Read your favourite passage of scripture out loud.

Make a list of your most pressing needs and find a promise of God to match it.

Write out what you really want at this point in your life, and share that with Jesus!

Focus on ONE created thing and describe what it teaches you about Jesus

Pray as far as your faith will take you. "Pray as you can, not as you can't!"

Read the encounters of Jesus and others, "How would I have reacted?"

Pray, "Lord, speak to me." Read scripture, and LISTEN.

Rewrite some of God's promises in your own words.

Tell Jesus what bothers you the most about Him!

Tell Jesus why you left Him out of your life at certain points.

Recount the times you wanted to impress man more than please God.

Be HONEST with God about what you fear the most and treasure the most!

Choose a Life Verse from the Bible for YOURSELF.

What would you recommend Jesus to others who don't know Him?

Meditate one ONE verse you have learned this year.

Make a memorial of all the times Jesus has revealed Himself directly to you.

❤ ❤ ❤

Jesus Is...

Happy Sunday! :)❤ ❤ ❤

❤ - - - - - - - -

Tuna & Crackers

[This picture is dedicated to the fact that there is zero snow on the ground, and I may just be experience my first not-so-white-Christmas this year!]

I just finished writing my second exam and I feel AWESOME! Just two more tomorrow, and then two more next week and then I am officially done my first semester here!

Last night was absolutely horrendous. I woke up randomly (by the grace of God) and saw that the time on my alarm clock was flashing.

The power went out! OH NO! I have an exam tomorrow morning. Wait, is it morning? Am I supposed to be in my exam right now, writing it?? WHAT IS THE TIME?!

So there I was freaking out, in the middle of the darkness, having absolutely no sense of time. I flipped open my laptop to see that it was only 1:22. Phew! I still have tons of time before I need to wake up before my exam!

But then I fell back asleep in complete fear. What if the power goes out again? What if I miss my exam?!

Sleeping in through an exam is one of my biggest fears, as well as forgetting my money at home when I have arrived at a shopping mall. Sigh.

So in order to make sure I absolutely would not sleep in past my alarm, I trained my body to wake up every hour, or at least every half hour. Turns out the power didn't go off again, so I would have been fine.

It was a long night, but my exam went so well, once again (even if I was a bit sleep-deprived). And now all I feel like doing is watching Marley and Me while eating tuna, mayonnaise, and crackers. But alas, I need to do DOUBLE the studying today.

Caio! :)

Brighten My Heart.

my heart is as dark as the soil
sodden with winter rains
my soul is as heavy as the peat
freshly dug from the bog
my thoughts swirl like willow branches
caught in autumn winds
my body is as tense as a cat's
as it stalks its prey

help me open my heart to you
help me open my heart to you
help me open my heart to you, oh Jesus
That's what i long to do

my heart is as dark as the soil
sodden wit winter rains
(Lord brighten my heart)
My soul is as heavy as the peat
freshly dug from the bog
(Lord lighten my soul)
my thoughts swirl like willow branches
caught in autumn winds
(Lord, still my thoughts)
my body is as tense as a cat's
as it stalks its prey
(Lord, relax my body)

-Sixpence None The Richer-

For The Blessing Jar...

December at college has been really great. I have successfully finished all of my assignments and papers, have participated in a whole bunch of fun social events, and even got to spend time with my parents who came out to visit! Such a blessing!

Last night I even had a chance to go on a date with my man! :)
And this morning, I wrote my first exam out of six! I thank God because my recall was excellent, and I feel like I did pretty well! But even if I didn't do well, I'd still thank God. :)

I have five more exams but I'm not stressed out at all. Two years ago, I was FREAKING OUT at exam time. My life looked somewhat like this picture:

But now, I think that I just have my priorities straight. My life will not be over if I don't get above 90% on an exam. My relationship with God is way more important than a bunch of silly markings on a paper.

Today I stumbled upon a CD my Mom and I used to constantly listen to, when I was much younger, and somehow I still remember all of the songs. It's called EXODUS and it's awesome!
You can listen to it here: Exodus!

One more week until I go home for Christmas! :)

School's Out! Almost!

Well, classes are over and it is time to start preparing for exams! With having all of my classes over and done with, this morning I took full advantage of this freedom. I slept in, cleaned my room while listening to the wonderful Christmas tunes of Josh Groban and Michael Buble (new CD!!), and then had a great workout at the gym. I am feeling good!

I also registered for all of my classes for my next semester in January. I am super excited!!

History of Christianity II
Social Psychology
Psychology of Personal and Interpersonal Dynamics
World Religions (this one is a Modular class, so it only lasts a week!)
Psychology of Human Development: Adolescents
and Hebrew Poetry & Wisdom

I am going to try and drop one of them, since I don't really want to be as busy as I was this last semester...but we'll see. (haha)

I am excited for this next semester because I also changed my major from Humanities to Christian Ministry (focusing on Family Studies) with a minor in Psychology. Super interesting!

I'm crazy. I miss having homework already. I miss the anticipation of choosing a paper topic and staying up 'till 3 AM trying to get it done. Sigh... but I guess I should be worried about my upcoming SIX exams. Yikes! Let the countdown begin -again-! :)

Here are some photos from the Christmas Party at school with the people I love the most! :)

The One Who Saves.

Over four months of singing in chapel, I have become familiar with the song "The One Who Saves" by Hillsong. It is AWESOME! I love worship time so much!

Come join the song, lift your voice
As Heaven and Earth give praise
Fall to your knees at the feet
Of the Son of the One true God

Turn from old ways, lift your eyes
For the kingdom of God is here
Open your heart, offer all
For Jesus Christ is here, oh now

We will find our home
We will find our peace
We will find our rest
In the One who loves

He will light the way
He will lead us home
As we offer all
To the One who saves us

Call on the name that is hope
Jesus, the Son of God
Lord over all, He is good
And His mercy endures always

His love endures
Forever His love endures
Forever His love endures
Forever and ever

We have found our home
We have found our peace
We have found our rest
In the one who saves.

PM.

This is the second time I have set my morning alarm to PM and have missed waking up for class. Sigh.

I absolutely cannot afford to have morning classes next semester!!

Oh well, at least I didn't miss anything major in class...no quiz or paper needed to be handed in.

And what's also a plus is that my body LOVES me today. Nine hours of sleep does amazing wonders on a person's overall well-being! :)

Fire.

❤ ❤ ❤

"Love is a friendship that has caught fire.

It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving.

It is loyalty through good and bad.

It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.

Love is content with the present, it hopes for the future, and it does not brood over the past.

It is the day in and day out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working towards common goals.

If you have love in your life, it can make up for a variety of things you lack.

If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough - so search for it, ask God for it, and share it."

- Ann Landers

I am so thankful that God has blessed me with a man who is in love with the Lord. Our relationship would be nothing without the Lord's teaching and guidance. Together, we are learning to serve God first and foremost, and then learning how to serve each other. I am one happy and blessed girl. :)

Happy & Blessed Sunday

My weekend has been pretty amazing so far. I have done zero homework. Zero!! How great is that? For the past two months I have been doing homework in my sleep and now God has blessed me with a weekend like this one.

I spent it with Him. Thursday evening I had my room all to myself, so I cozied up in my bed with a bowl of chicken noodle soup and watched two online sermons by pastor Mark Driscoll. It was exactly what I needed to get myself back in check.
And then Friday and Saturday I watched more sermons, I read some more, and I prayed some more.

I have missed this relaxation and this time with God so much.

It's silly I know, that I only gave myself this much time with God on the weekend where homework was sparse. I don't want it to be that way. I want to spend this much time with Him EVERYDAY no matter the homework load!

Well, I'm off to church and I'm super excited. I love love love worshipping with fellow believers in song and in prayer! :)

Happy & Blessed Sunday because God is good even when these times are hard!!!

❤   ❤   ❤

Killing Us Softly

The incredible woman in this video speaks about advertisements, which -subconsciously- effect us in the most horrible of mind-distorting and in turn, health-compromising ways. I urge you to watch both parts!

Alma.

The most incredible thing happened this week! In one of the chapel's at school, the Compassion Canada team set up a booth and I knew right then and there that this was the time to do it. This was the time to finally make that decision, and yes to sponsoring a child! And I am SO excited about it!

Her name is Alma, she is ten years old and lives in Indonesia. She is absolutely so beautiful and precious. One of my best friends here at college has actually visited her own Compassion child in Ecuador and said it was the most amazing experience ever. I would love to do something like that. (But all in due time--haha) But yes, one day I would love to go to Indonesia and see the girl I have decided to sponsor.

Every month, Compassion will take $41 out of my bank account, and send it straight to where Alma lives. This money will put her through school and accommodate to her needs. Why would I want to spend $41 on buying myself clothes that I don't need and food when I'm not even hungry? Why not give it to Alma who NEEDS it?

I also found out that I don't even need to write snail mail. I met with a lady today who told me that I can just go online to the Compassion website and write letters that will be printed off and sent to Alma. How convenient and efficient!

God is so good and it's incredible how just simple letter writing and money giving from a "normal" twenty-year-old lady like me can change a person's life who lives all the way across the globe. In the video that Compassion showed us (I wish I could find the link to it right now!) the kids who were sponsored just kept emphasizing how a teenager from North America had the power to change their lives. God is compassionate, loving, and giving, and we as His people are called to live in His image. And sponsoring a child for $41 a month is a great way to GIVE!